Unloading device for the shaft and bearing of a vertical gyrosocope



H. SUNDHAUSSEN.

UNLDADING DEVICE FOR THE SHAFT AND BEARING OF A VERTICAL GYROSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,1920.

1,404,329, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Fig.1.

Avian/Zr lrmaqn jam/54a. e '1 ment in the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H SUNDKAUS SEN, OI ESE-N, omnlm,

ABSIGNOB, 1'0 rm. nm

LKTIENGBSELI'SGHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-BUHR, omm.

UNLOADING DEVICE FOR THE SHAFT AND BEARING 01' A VERTICAL GYBOSOOPI- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 24, 1922.

Application filed September 25, 192 Serial Io. 412,897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN SUNDHAUS- SEN, residing at Essen, Germany, a citizenof the German Republic, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in an Unloading Device for the vhaft and Bearing of a Vertical Gyroscope, (for which I have filed an application-in Germany on November 18, 1915,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a very favorable device for unloading of shaft and bearing of a vertical spinning top or rotor of a gyroscope. Y The accompanying drawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention as applied to a gyroscopic machine, in which- Fig. 1 shows an axial, longitudinal section of the gyroscopic machine;

Fig. 2 a detail in top plan view; and

Fig. 3 a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, seen from above.

The rotor, designated by reference letter A, is revolubly mounted in a housing B on its upright shaft O. The housing B is suspended in well-known manner through the intermediary of a gimbal ring in a stationary casing E. On the portion of the housing B, which is situated opposite the lower portion of the flywheel A, of the rotor A, is carried a sleeve F, in axial alinement with shaft O and displaceable against a spring G. The sleeve F i provided with four projections f at the end adjacent the housing B, which projections engage with corresponding notches in the housing B and are provided on top with leather cushions f (see Fig. 2). The sleeve F is secured against a displacement in the direction of the rotor A by means of several pawls H secured on the sleeve and actuated by flat springs h, the pawls being shaped as bell-cranks with unequal arms, the longer arms H of which engage with grooves b in. the housin B. The sleeve F is prevented from any displaceopposite direction by a disk 6 secured on the housing B, which disk contacts on its upper side with the projections 7".

On the lower portion of the housing B is to be found a boring I) with a conical bevel b, which is coaxial with the shaft C. Op site this boring is situated a stud J of a diameter corresponding to that of the boring b and slidab y carried in the bottle=neckbe lifted in the direction of the boring I).

In its highest and lowest positions the lever M may be locked by, a ke N, which is intended to enter correspon ing key holes 0 and e on the casing E.

In the socket K is slidably carried a sleeve Q, actuated by a spring P. This sleeve is provided with an annular shoulder 9' engaging under a collar 11 of the stud J, so that the sleeve must partake in any movement of the socket. The sleeve Q reaches with its upper end above ,the upper edge of the socket K. In the path of the sleeve Q is the sleeve F with its inwardly turned flange f and also the pawls H with their short arms H which extend a certain amount be 0nd. The amount which the arms H reac beyond the face of the flange f has been selected so that the pawls H will be pressed outwards from the grooves b by the sleeve Q, when.the sleeve Q during displacement arrives in contact with the flange f Directly after the stopping or disconnection of the motor (not shown, but which may be of any usual type and have the usual means for operatively connecting it to the rotcgi) provided for driving the rotor A, the lever is turned downwards as soon as the kefi N has been removed from the key hole a. he pinion M will then be turned in the direction of the arrow m (Fig. 1), and throu h the intermediary of the tooth-rack k t e socket K, together with the stud J and the sleeve Q, will be pushed upwardly. If now the wheel A stands in inclined position as regards the stationary casing E, the stud J will strike the bevel b, press the wheel into central position and presses it fast in that position. Simultaneously the upper edlge of the sleeve Q-strikes against the arms of the bell-cranks H and the bell-cranks will thus be swung out of the grooves 15' th'mu h continues until the leather cushions f arrive in contact with the flywheel A of the wheel A. At this moment the lever M has not yet arrived in its lowest position, so that upon further turning of the lever until the spring P is still further compressed, a certain force is consequently acting against the flywheel A of the rotor A through the intermediary of the sleeve Q. The leather cushions f thereupon act as brakes upon the rotor A and consequently bring it to rest. The spring P is calculated so that the pressure exerted against the rotor is approximately the same as the weight of the rotor when the wheel is standing still the rotor shaft C and the lower bearing will consequently be completely disengaged, whereby the additional advantage is gained that the rotor is supported on a sprmg'bearing, so that any shocks occurring during transportation can have no injurious effect.

When the rotor has again to be started, the hand lever M is turned in opposite direction to arrow 0: after removing the key N. Then socket Kwill then be loweredthrough the intermediaryof the pinion M and the tooth-rack is, in which motion the stud J and the sleeve Q will partake. Actuatedby spring G, the sleeve F then follows the same movement until it comes in contact with the disk-b through its projections f. Through continued displacement of the socket K downwardly, the sleeve Q releases the arms H of the bellcranks, so that the bell-cranks again fall into the grooves b actuated by springs It. The stud J simultaneously leaves the boring I). The rotor A and its housing B have consequently regained their complete freedom of movement.

If the described disengaging device should be applied to rotors that already at at rest, as, for instance, would be the case when a special brake 1s provided for the rotor then the projections on the sleeve F need not, naturally, be provided with leather cushions or theirequivalent.

Claims:

1. A gyroscope comprising a vertical rotor, a rotor shaft resting by gravity upon a hearing at its end, a bearing for said shaft an axially movable member embracing said shaft about said bearing, normally disengaged from the rotor but suitableoto take the load thereof.

2. In mechanism of the character described in claim 1, the axially movable member n the form of a sleeve, and the rotor housing having a neck whereon said sleeve is guided.

3 In mechanism of the character descrlbed in claim 2, the sleeve having shoe members serving as brakes for the rotor.

4 In mechanism of the character described in claim 1, the axially movable memher having latches for holding it out of engagement with the rotor and means for disengaging said latches.

5. In mechanism of the character set forth in claim 1, a spring supported, lifting member disconnected from but axially shiftable to operative relation to said axially movable member.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a bearing of an axially movable rotor resting by gravity upon said bearing at its end, a lifting sleeve device therefor, and a lifting stand for said lifting sleevedevice disconnectedly mounted with respect to said lifting sleeve.

7. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a step bearing of a rotor said rotor having a shaft, a pivoted housin bearing, sai housing having a pendent neck having a guide surface, and a vertically movable stud to engage said surface to return to and retain in vertical position the rotor shaft.

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a rotor, a housing therefor, a shiftable sleeve for taking the load of the rotor, latches for holding the sleeve, and a vertically movable member having means for engaging and releasing said latches, means for engaging and centering the housing and rotor and means for lifting the rotor shaft from its bearing.

9. Mechanism such as described in claim 8 having means for braking the rotor.

1O.- In mechanism} of the class described the combination with a step bearing of a rotor, a gimbal supported housing in which its shaft has said step bearing, said housing having a pendent neck with a guide surface, and a vertically movable stud to engage said surface to return to and retain in vertical position the rotor shaft.

11. In combination with a step bearing, a rotor, a casing for said rotor a gimbal supported housing in which the shaft of said rotor has said step bearing,-and a spring pressed means mounted on said casing for frictionally engaging said rotor.

12. In combination with a rotor, a casing for said rotor a gimbal supported housing in which the shaft of said rotor has a step bearing, and a spring pressed sleeve device about said shaft mounted on said casing for frictionally engaging said motor, and for withdrawing and supporting said rotor from its step bearing,

13. In "combination with a rotor a casing for said rotor, a gimbal supported housing in which the shaft of said rotor has a s ring bearing, a sleeve device about said sha for withdrawing and supgorting said rotor from its bearing, said evice comprising a latch released engaging member for the withdrawing and support of said rotor,

in which its shaft has steplatches for said member and spring means for operating the latches of said member.

14. In combination with a rotor a casing for said rotor, a gimbal supported housing 5 in which the shaft of said motor has a spring bearing, a sleeve device about said shaft for withdrawing and supporting said rotor from its bearing, said device comprising a latch released engaging member for 10 the withdrawing and support of said rotor, latches for said member and spring means for operating the latches of said member, the tension of said spring means necessary to release said latch engaged member bein practically equal to the weight of sai 15 rotor.

The foregoing specification si ed at Essen, Germany this 16th day of une, 1920. HERMANN SUNDHAUSSEN. In presence of Hans GO'I'ISMANN, Josnr Ommn'm. 

